--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have a terror of seeming to exert…" description: "\"We have a terror of seeming to exert ourselves, lest it be noticed that we exerted ourselves and did not succeed.\" — Mignon McLaughlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/mignon-mclaughlin-742_entrepreneur_we-have-a-terror-of-seeming-to-exert-our_18244.png" --- # We have a terror of seeming to exert ourselves, lest it be… ![“We have a terror of seeming to exert ourselves, lest it be noticed that we exerted ourselves and did not succeed.” quote by Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/mignon-mclaughlin-742_entrepreneur_we-have-a-terror-of-seeming-to-exert-our_18244.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/mignon-mclaughlin-742_entrepreneur_we-have-a-terror-of-seeming-to-exert-our_18244.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/mignon-mclaughlin-742_entrepreneur_we-have-a-terror-of-seeming-to-exert-our_18244.png) > “We have a terror of seeming to exert ourselves, lest it be noticed that we exerted ourselves and did not succeed.” [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns against the fear of appearing to try and fail, suggesting that concern over perception can inhibit genuine effort. **In simple terms:** Fear of appearing effortful can hinder success. Key Takeaway Avoid letting image concerns stop you from trying. Themes self‑esteem authenticity failure anxiety social perception motivation Mood reflective cautious Type aphor advice When to use this quote - public speaking - job interview - creative project - team leadership Key Concepts psychology of self‑presentation confidence risk‑taking Practical Applications - personal growth coaching - organizational culture training Questions to Reflect On - How does concern for others' opinions shape your actions? - What would change if you focused on effort rather than perception? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneur/) [Exert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exert/) [Exert Lest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exert-lest-388874/) [Exerted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exerted-58934/) [Exerted Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exerted-did-388875/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Seeming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeming/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror/) [Terror Exert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror-exert-388873/) ## Related quotes > [Mars has long exerted a pull on the human imagination. 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as we're neurotic, we can't do what we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/as-we-are-human-we-can-t-do-what-we-can-t-do-as-we-re-neurotic-we-can/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Naturally, the neurotic wants you to love him twice as much, for he's going to cut it in half anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/naturally-the-neurotic-wants-you-to-love-him-twice-as-much-for-he-s/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The three horrors of modern life - talk without meaning, desire without love, work without satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-three-horrors-of-modern-life-talk-without-meaning-desire-without/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [We are never more self-righteous than when giving up what we should have shunned all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-are-never-more-self-righteous-than-when-giving-up-what-we-should/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The time to begin most things is ten years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-time-to-begin-most-things-is-ten-years-ago/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [One of life's few really reliable pleasures: to have a family you love, and to leave them for a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/one-of-life-s-few-really-reliable-pleasures-to-have-a-family-you-love/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [So long as God reveals Himself, or doesn't, He is behaving like God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/so-long-as-god-reveals-himself-or-doesn-t-he-is-behaving-like-god/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The total history of almost anyone would shock almost everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-total-history-of-almost-anyone-would-shock-almost-everyone/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [There are children born to be children, and others who must mark time till they can take their natural places as adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/there-are-children-born-to-be-children-and-others-who-must-mark-time/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [In life, as in restaurants, we swallow a lot of indigestible stuff just because it comes with the dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/in-life-as-in-restaurants-we-swallow-a-lot-of-indigestible-stuff-just/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Neurotics always feel as though they were going way up or way down, which is odd in people going sideways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/neurotics-always-feel-as-though-they-were-going-way-up-or-way-down/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Even in the same family, one child will always instinctively know when to ask for things, and another won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/even-in-the-same-family-one-child-will-always-instinctively-know-when/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [People find it hard to be both comic and serious, though life manages it easily enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/people-find-it-hard-to-be-both-comic-and-serious-though-life-manages/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [No good neurotic finds it difficult to be both opinionated and indecisive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/no-good-neurotic-finds-it-difficult-to-be-both-opinionated-and/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Age is a slowing down of everything except fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/age-is-a-slowing-down-of-everything-except-fear/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) [Explore all 383 Mignon McLaughlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## More Entrepreneur quotes > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [What is entrepreneurship, after all? 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